Amazon reportedly plans to start a cargo service shipping packages to the Moon by 2020 to help set up a human settlement, according to a reports in the Washington Post.
The online retail giant is reportedly targeting operating a cargo spacecraft Earth-to-Moon delivery service, which would carry as much as 10,000 pounds of goods to the Moon’s South Pole and could be set for lift-off in 2020, according to reports.
The Washington Post reports that Amazon chief, Jeff Bezos as saying he wants to start delivering equipment to the moon to help set up the first human settlement with private space company Blue Origin, which would be the lunar equivalent of Amazon Prime. He says the mission could only happen through a partnership with Nasa.
The Washington Post says he has already “reserved his spot” near the Moon’s Shackleton Crater on the South Pole, which reportedly is a prime spot because it has constant sunlight and water nearby could be used as a source of hydrogen for rocket fuel.
The Post, which is owned by Bezos, reportedly attained a white paper written by Bezos where he explained his plans and quoted him as saying: “This cargo service would help to enable ‘future human settlement’ of the moon. ‘It is time for America to return to the Moon – this time to stay.”
Blue Origin has a range of rockets. As well as sending goods to the Moon in 2020 it is still on schedule to send paying customers into orbit as soon as 2018.
